Devices, systems, and methods for aiding in the detection of a physiological abnormality

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a system and device for aiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variations in contents of breathed air. The system includes a handheld unit defining an airway, wherein the airway includes a plurality of sensors adapted to measure a plurality of parameters related to the presence of a physiological abnormality. The system further includes a control unit remotely connected to the handheld unit. The control unit includes a controller adapted to receive input signals from the handheld unit and remit output signals in response thereto. The output signals are usable by a user in determining the presence or absence of a physiological abnormality. The control unit further also can include a display adapted to display the output signals to a user thereby easing the determination of the physiological abnormality. The system further includes a mouthpiece selectively connectable to the handheld unit. The mouthpiece can include a filter adapted to substantially prohibit the passage of germs into the airway of the handheld unit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/004,592 filed on Dec. 20, 2007, which is nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,433,765 issued on Oct. 8, 2019, which claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/876,341 filed on Dec. 21, 2006,and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/927,067 filed on May 1, 2007,each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical devicesand diagnostics, and more specifically to the field of non-invasivedevices, systems and methods for aiding in the detection of aphysiological abnormality identifiable through analysis of contents of aquantity of breathed air.

2. History of the Related Art

Contents and airflow characteristics of breathed air vary with physicalcondition. Different physical abnormalities manifest certain detectableand measurable variations in those contents. One example of aphysiological abnormality identifiable through analysis of measuredcontents and flow characteristics of a quantity of breathed air is apulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when an embolus becomeslodged in a lung artery, thus blocking blood flow to lung tissue. Anembolus is usually a blood clot, known as a thrombus, but may alsocomprise fat, amniotic fluid, bone marrow, tumor fragments, or even airbubbles that block a blood vessel. Unless treated promptly, a pulmonaryembolism may be fatal.

Like many physiological abnormalities, a pulmonary embolism may bedifficult to detect because signs and symptoms may vary depending on theseverity of the occurrence. For instance, a pulmonary embolism may beconfused with a heart attack, pneumonia, hyperventilation, congestiveheart failure or a panic attack. In other cases, no symptoms manifest atall.

A physician will sometimes first eliminate the occurrence of otherdiseases or dysfunctions before determining a true cause of thephysiological abnormality. In the example of a pulmonary embolism,traditional diagnostic methods of testing involve blood tests, chestX-rays, and electrocardiograms. These methods typically may be moreeffective in ruling out other possible problems than in actuallydiagnosing a pulmonary embolism. For example, a chest x-ray may revealsubtle changes in the blood vessel patterns after an embolism and signsof pulmonary infarction. However, chest x-rays may show normal lungseven when an embolism is present. Similarly, an electrocardiogram mayshow abnormalities that are useful mainly in establishing thepossibility of a pulmonary embolism.

As a pulmonary embolism alters the ability of the lungs to oxygenate theblood and to remove carbon dioxide from the blood, one method ofdiagnosing the condition involves taking a specimen of arterial bloodand measuring the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in thearterial blood (i.e., an arterial blood gas analysis). Although apulmonary embolism often causes abnormalities in these measurements, anindividual finding or combination of findings from the arterial bloodgas analysis does not necessarily provide a reliable way to exclude or aspecific way of diagnosing a pulmonary embolism. For instance, somepatients with a documented pulmonary embolism have normal oxygen andcarbon dioxide contents of the arterial blood. Accordingly, the arterialblood analysis may not reliably include or exclude the diagnosis of apulmonary embolism.

The blood D-dimer assay is another diagnostic method that has becomeavailable for commercial use. A D-dimer protein fragment is typicallyformed when fibrin is cleaved by plasmin and therefore producednaturally whenever clots form in the body. However, many studies haveshown a D-dimer assay may produce a high degree of false positives whenevaluating a patient for pulmonary embolism.

In an attempt to increase the accuracy of diagnostic procedures forpulmonary embolisms, physicians have recently turned to methods that canproduce an image of a potentially afflicted lung. One such method is anuclear perfusion study that involves the injection of a small amount ofradioactive particles into a vein. The radioactive particles then travelto the lungs where they highlight the perfusion of blood in the lungbased upon whether they can penetrate a given area of the lung. Onepossible drawback to this method, however, is that an abnormal scan doesnot necessarily mean that a pulmonary embolism is present.

Pulmonary angiograms are another means of diagnosing a pulmonaryembolism. During a pulmonary angiogram, a catheter is threaded into thepulmonary artery so that iodine dye can be injected into thebloodstream. The dye flows into the regions of the lung, defining thelung's arteries in an x-ray image. This technique may indicate apulmonary embolism as a blockage of flow in an artery. Although apulmonary angiogram may be useful in diagnosing a pulmonary embolism,this technique often presents health risks in addition to imposing aburdensome cost.

Spiral volumetric computed tomography is another diagnostic tool thathas been proposed recently as a possibly less invasive test fordetecting a pulmonary embolism. This procedure's reported sensitivityhas varied widely; Spiral volumetric tomography may provide utility onlyfor diagnosing an embolism in the central pulmonary arteries because ofa relatively insensitivity to clot detection in more remote regions ofthe lungs.

The pulmonary vascular imaging tests described above have severaldisadvantages in common. Many of the tests require ionizing radiationand invasiveness of, at a minimum, an intravenous catheter. Some testsalso typically involve costs of more than $1,000 for the patient, takemore than two hours to perform, and require special expertise such as atrained technician to perform the tests and acquire the images and aboard-certified radiologist to interpret the images. Notably, many ofthe tests may be questionably safe for patients who are pregnant. As aresult of these shortcomings, many of the imaging procedures currentlyin use are unavailable in many outpatient clinic settings. Accordingly,there is a need in the art for a system, device and method that arereadily usable in an outpatient setting for aiding in the diagnosis ofphysiological abnormalities including, for example, pulmonary embolisms,whose symptoms manifest in detectable, measurable variations in thecontents and characteristics of breathed air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a system for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variationsin the contents of breathed air. The system includes a handheld unitdefining an airway, wherein the airway includes a plurality of sensorsadapted to measure a plurality of parameters related to the presence ofa physiological abnormality, for example, parameters like volume of airand oxygen and carbon dioxide content of a user's exhaled breath. Thesystem further includes a control unit remotely connected to thehandheld unit. The control unit includes a controller adapted to receiveinput signals from the handheld unit and remit output signals inresponse thereto. The output signals enable a user to determine thepresence or absence of a physiological abnormality. The control unitfurther can include a display adapted to display the output signals to auser thereby further facilitating data analysis. The system furtherincludes a mouthpiece selectively connectable to the handheld unit. Themouthpiece can include a filter adapted to substantially prohibit thepassage of germs into the airway of the handheld unit.

The present invention further includes a handheld unit for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological abnormality resulting in detectable,measurable variations in the contents and characteristics of breathedair. The handheld unit includes an airway defined within the handheldunit and a plurality of sensors disposed within the airway. Theplurality of sensors are adapted to measure a plurality of parametersrelated to the presence of a physiological abnormality, such as forexample the oxygen and carbon dioxide content of a user's exhaledbreath. The handheld unit further includes a mouthpiece selectivelyconnectable to the handheld unit. The mouthpiece can include a filteradapted to substantially prohibit the passage of germs into the airwayof the handheld unit.

The present invention further includes a removable mouthpiece usable inthe detection of a physiological abnormality resulting in detectable,measurable variations in the contents of breathed air. The removablemouthpiece includes a substantially cylindrical body portion defining asubstantially cylindrical passageway having a first end and a secondend. The removable mouthpiece further includes a support member disposedat a first end of the body portion and an integrated filtration mediaconnected to the support member. The filtration media is substantiallyconical and defining an open end and a closed end. The filtration mediais disposed within the passageway such that the open end issubstantially adjacent to the first end of the body portion.

The present invention also includes a method for using a system foraiding in the diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction. This methodinvolves measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide produced in avolume of exhaled air and measuring a concentration of unconsumed oxygenin that same volume of exhaled air. The method further includescalculating a carboximetry (carbox) ratio of these two measuredconcentrations and comparing that ratio to a first known valueindicative of a positive diagnosis for pulmonary embolism and a secondknown value indicative of a negative diagnosis for pulmonary embolism,wherein the calculated carbox ratio may fall between the first knownvalue and second known value. The method further recites applying one ormore normalization factors to any carbox ratio falling between the firstknown value and second known value to derive a normalized carbox ratio,wherein the one or more normalization factors are applicableindependently or in combination with each other. Lastly, the methodrecites determining the presence or absence of a respiratory dysfunctionby comparing the normalized carbox ratio to a threshold value thatsignals the presence or absence of pulmonary embolism.

The present invention further includes an alternate method for using asystem for aiding in the diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction. Thismethod involves measuring a volume of carbon dioxide produced during theduration of an exhaled breath of air and measuring a volume ofunconsumed oxygen during the duration of an exhaled breath of air. Themethod then recites determining a point of change in a rate of molecularexchange in the volume of exhaled air and calculating a carbox ratiorepresenting a concentration of carbon dioxide produced at the point ofchange in relation to a concentration of unconsumed oxygen produced atthe point of change. The method involves comparing the calculated carboxratio to a first known value indicating the presence of a respiratorydysfunction and a second known value indicating the absence of arespiratory dysfunction, wherein the calculated carbox ratio may fallbetween the first known value and second known value. Applying one ormore normalization factors to any carbox ratio falling between the firstknown value and second known value derives a normalized carbox ratio.The one or more normalization factors are applicable independently or incombination with each other. The method recites determining the presenceor absence of a respiratory dysfunction by comparing the normalizedcarbox ratio to a threshold value that signals the presence or absenceof pulmonary embolism.

The present invention further includes yet another method for using asystem for aiding in the diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction. Thismethod involves calculating a patient's normal lung volume based on agroup of physiological factors including a patient's gender, height,weight and age. The method recites calculating a ratio of an expectedconcentration of carbon dioxide in an expected volume of exhaled air toan expected concentration of unconsumed oxygen in the expected volume ofexhaled air and then measuring actual concentrations of carbon dioxideand unconsumed oxygen produced in a volume of exhaled air. The methodthen recites calculating a carbox ratio representing the actualconcentration of carbon dioxide produced relative to the actualconcentration of unconsumed oxygen produced in a volume of exhaled airand comparing a ratio of the measured actual concentrations to the ratioof expected concentrations. Lastly, the method involves identifying anydeviation between the actual and expected ratios and diagnosingrespiratory dysfunction based on an analysis of this deviation.

The present invention is described below in detail according to itspreferred embodiments with reference to the following figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 a is a schematic diagram of a system for aiding in the diagnosisof a physiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurablevariations in the contents and characteristics of breathed air inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 b is a depiction of a system for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variationsin the contents and characteristics of breathed air in accordance withan alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 c is a depiction of a system for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variationsin the contents and characteristics of breathed air in accordance withan alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 d is a depiction of a portion of a system for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological abnormality resulting in detectable,measurable variations in the contents and characteristics of breathedair in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a display usable in the system for aidingin the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 c is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 d is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a display usable in the system for aidingin the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a representation of a display usable in the system for aidingin the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 a is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 b is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 c is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 d is a representation of a display usable in the system foraiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a handheld unit for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a removable mouthpiece for aidingin the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a frontal view of a removable mouthpiece for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological abnormality shown in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is a rear view of a removable mouthpiece for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological abnormality shown in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a removable mouthpiece for aidingin the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality taken along section A-Ashown in FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 a is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of aremovable mouthpiece for aiding in the diagnosis of a physiologicalabnormality.

FIG. 12 b is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment ofa removable mouthpiece for aiding in the diagnosis of a physiologicalabnormality.

FIG. 12 c is an end view of an alternative embodiment of a removablemouthpiece shown in FIG. 12 b for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality.

FIG. 12 d is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of aremovable mouthpiece shown in FIG. 12 b for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality.

FIG. 13 a is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a removablemouthpiece for aiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormality.

FIG. 13 b is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of aremovable mouthpiece.

FIG. 13 c is another perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aremovable mouthpiece shown in FIG. 13 b.

FIG. 13 d is an end view of an alternative embodiment of a removablemouthpiece shown in FIG. 13 b.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a one method of diagnosing respiratorydysfunction using the system of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a depiction of identifying a phase 2 slope on a carbondioxide versus volume curve.

FIG. 16 is a scatter plot of clinical study data representing dead spacenormalized carbox ratios plotted against raw carbox ratios for patientswith pulmonary embolisms and patients without pulmonary embolisms.

FIG. 17 is a Spec95 receiver operator curve for dead space normalizedcarbox ratios.

FIG. 18 is a scatter plot of clinical study data representingrespiratory quotient normalized carbox ratios plotted against raw carboxratios for patients with pulmonary embolisms and patients withoutpulmonary embolisms.

FIG. 19 is a Spec95 receiver operator curve for respiratory quotientnormalized carbox ratios.

FIG. 20 is a scatter plot of clinical study data representing phase 2slope normalized carbox ratios plotted against raw carbox ratios forpatients with pulmonary embolisms and patients without pulmonaryembolisms.

FIG. 21 is a Spec95 receiver operator curve for phase 2 slope normalizedcarbox ratios.

FIG. 22 is a scatter plot of clinical study data representing dead spacenormalized carbox ratios plotted against minute volumes for patientswith pulmonary embolisms and patients without pulmonary embolisms.

FIG. 23 is a Spec95 receiver operator curve for dead space and minutevolume normalized carbox ratios.

FIG. 24 is a scatter plot of clinical study data representing dead spacenormalized carbox ratios plotted against alveolar minute volumes forpatients with pulmonary embolisms and patients without pulmonaryembolisms.

FIG. 25 is a Spec95 receiver operator curve for dead space and alveolarminute volume normalized carbox ratios.

FIG. 26 is a scatter plot of mean ratios of exhale heart period toinhale heart period plotted against dead space normalized carbox ratiosfor patients with pulmonary embolisms and patients without pulmonaryembolisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes a system, a device, and a removablemouthpiece for aiding in the diagnosis of a physiological abnormalityresulting variations of detectable and measurable contents andcharacteristics of breathed air. Various features and advantages of thepresent invention are described below with reference to severalpreferred embodiments and variations thereof. However, it should beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the scope of the presentinvention is defined by the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. 1 a , the system 10 of the preferred embodimentincludes a handheld unit 12 defining an airway 30 (shown in phantom),wherein the airway 30 includes a plurality of sensors adapted to measurea plurality of parameters related to the presence of a physiologicalabnormality, such as a respiratory dysfunction. Further details of apreferred handheld unit 12 are described below with reference to FIG. 7. The system 10 further includes a control unit 20 remotely connected tothe handheld unit 12. The control unit 20 includes a controller 22(shown in phantom) adapted to receive input signals from the handheldunit 12 and remit output signals in response thereto. The output signalsare usable by a user in determining the presence or absence of aphysiological abnormality, such as a pulmonary dysfunction. The controlunit 20 further can include a display 24 adapted to display the outputsignals to a user thereby facilitating data analysis. In addition tointernally storing and displaying data, the control unit 20 also mayprovide ports (not shown), such as USB or Ethernet, for transferringdata measurements to another device such as a computer, server, PDA, orprinter device. In another embodiment, the control unit 20 may transferdata wirelessly to an external device.

In a variation of the preferred embodiment, the handheld unit 12includes a first port 16 adapted to communicate with the control unit20. Similarly, the control unit 20 can include a second port 28 that isadapted to communicate with the handheld unit 12. In one alternativeembodiment, the first port 16 and the second port 28 are connectedthrough wired means, which may include, for example, a cable 18 that isextendable therebetween. Alternatively, each of the first port 16 andthe second port 28 may include wireless transmission and receivingantenna, wireless communications hardware, and wireless communicationssoftware that facilitate wireless communications of data between thehandheld unit 12 and the control unit 20. In an alternative embodiment,instead of communicating with the control unit 20, the handheld unit 12may communicate directly with an external device, and the externaldevice may be one of any number of electronic devices having a memoryportion and a processor portion for receiving and analyzing datatransmitted through a wired or wireless communication means. Thesedevices may include, for example, handheld personal computing devices,computer workstations and laptop computers.

In another variation of the preferred embodiment, the control unit 20can include a handle 26 that is usable in the manual transport of thecontrol unit 20. The handle 26 additionally can function as a receptaclefor the handheld unit 12 when the latter is not in use. In thisvariation, the handheld unit 12 generally may define an elongatedportion 15 that is perpendicular to the airway 30, wherein a user holdsor grips the handheld unit 12 by the elongated portion 15 whilebreathing through the airway 30. In another variation of the preferredembodiment, the handheld unit 12 can include indentations or grippingsurfaces to aid a patient in securing the handheld unit 12.Additionally, the elongated portion 15 of the handheld unit 12 may berounded or bulbous so that a user may rest the handheld unit 12comfortably against his chest for added stability during use.

The handle 26 can include one or more locking mechanisms to retain thehandheld unit 12 when docked or otherwise physically connected to thecontrol unit 20. Although FIG. 1 a depicts the handle 26 as disposed ona top surface of the control unit 20, this configuration is changeableand the control unit 20 can bear the handle 26 on any other surfaceincluding, for example, a side surface. To that end, the second port 28generally may exist on a surface distinct from that upon which thehandle 26 is located, thus providing greater space for managing anycable 18 that connects the handheld unit 12 and the control unit 20.

FIGS. 1 b through 1 d show an alternative embodiment of the control unit20 and the handheld unit 12. Like parts are numbered the same betweenembodiments. As shown in FIG. 1 b , the control unit 20 retains thehandheld unit 12 in an upright position. In an alternative embodiment,the control unit 20 may retain the handheld unit in a prone positionacross the top of the control unit 20 in place of the handle 26. In thisalternative embodiment, the control unit 20 may comprise a lockingelement for locking the handheld unit 12 in place for use as a handle26.

FIGS. 1 b and 1 c depict an alternative embodiment of the handheld unit12 which comprises a protective grating 13 over on end of the airway 30so that the plurality of sensors remain protected from debris or objectsthat could cause damage.

As shown in FIG. 1 b , the control unit 20 also may include a cablemanagement system, such as a well 17 disposed within the control unit20, for selectively containing the cable 18 during usage and storage ofthe system 10. The cable management system can include any mechanical orelectromechanical means known in the art for minimizing the amount ofcable 18 exposed during usage of the system 10. For example, the cable18 may be a tension coil cable, like those used on telephone handsets,and when a user docks the handheld unit 12, the user aligns the tensioncoil cable 18 with the well 17 so that it contracts automatically intothe well 17 in the control unit 20 for automatic storage.

The control unit 20 also may include a pole mount (not shown) forattaching to a bedrail or IV pole. The pole mount also may enablehanging the control unit 20 from a hook, such as an IV pole hook.Mounting the control unit 20 to a pole or hook enables a user toconcentrate solely on breathing instead of simultaneously attempting tohold the control unit 20.

In an alternative embodiment, the control unit 20 also may contain arechargeable battery of one of the many types well known in the art ofrechargeable batteries for operating the system 10 free of any powercables. In this alternative embodiment, a user selectively may connect apower cable (not shown) to the control unit 20. The power cable may beone, for example, adapted to mate with an AC current standard walloutlet or a DC current automobile power outlet, for providing a chargeto the rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery then would storethe charge for extended use apart from a power outlet. The control unit20 also may operate during charging, with the power cable attached.

In addition to pole mounts and power outlets, an alternative embodimentof the control unit 20 also may comprise several additional elements,such a power indicator 23, a battery indicator 25 and cooling vents (noshown) for convective cooling of the central processing unit (not shown)contained within the control unit 20. Because the control unit 20 maystand upright or rest securely on its sides, the control unit 20 mayfurther comprise raised ridges for keeping the cooling ventsunobstructed when the control unit 20 rests with the cooling ventsfacing a surface.

In addition to the control unit 20 and the handheld unit 12, the system10 further includes a removable mouthpiece 14 selectively connectable tothe handheld unit 12. The removable mouthpiece 14 can include a filteradapted to substantially prohibit the passage of germs into the airwayof the handheld unit. In one variation of the system 10 of the preferredembodiment, the removable mouthpiece 14 includes an integratedfiltration media 70. As shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 d, the removablemouthpiece 14 includes a substantially cylindrical body portion 60defining a substantially cylindrical passageway 62 having a first end 64and a second end 66. The removable mouthpiece 14 further includes asupport member 68 disposed at a first end 64 of the body portion 60 andan integrated filtration media 70 connected to the support member 68.

The filtration media 70 is substantially conical and defines an open end74 and a closed end 72. The filtration media 70 is disposed within thepassageway 62 such that the open end 74 is substantially adjacent to thefirst end 64 of the body portion 60. The substantially conicalfiltration media 70 minimizes airflow resistance during both exhalationand inhalation by providing a large surface area through which air mayflow. This design provides several benefits. Minimizing airflowresistance is of particular importance when patients suffer fromrespiratory distress because their airflow rates are often higher thanthose of patients breathing without respiratory distress. Minimizingairflow resistance also lessens a sensation of breathing through adevice, which enables highly comfortable use and produces consistentreadings for an accurate diagnosis.

The removable mouthpiece 14 is selectively connectable to a handheldunit 12 of the type described above, wherein the handheld unit 12 isadapted to measure a plurality of parameters that may be indicative of anumber of physiological abnormalities, for example, a pulmonarydysfunction. The integrated filtration media 70 is adapted tosubstantially prohibit the passage of germs into the airway 30 of thehandheld unit 12. To that end, the filtration media 70 may includecertain antimicrobial coatings, fibers, compounds or compositions thatare adapted to kill or occlude the passage of germs into the airway 30.In one embodiment of the present invention, the filtration media 70comprises 3M® Filtrete® material and has an airflow resistance in therange of 0-4 cm H₂O at 60 liters per minute of flow. Preferably, thefiltration media 70 has an airflow resistance that is less than 2 cm H₂Oat 60 liters per minute of flow, and more preferably the filtrationmedial 70 has an airflow resistance equal to or less than approximately1 cm H₂O at 60 liters per minute of flow.

In addition to minimizing airflow resistance, as described above, thefiltration media 70 further functions to minimize dead space volumewithin the removable mouthpiece 14 and within the airway 30 of thehandheld unit 12. Minimization of the dead space volume provides anumber of benefits, most notably increasing precision and reliability ofmeasurements derived by the plurality of sensors disposed within thehandheld unit 12. By minimizing the overall volume of air within theairway 30, the removable mouthpiece 14 improves the overall measuringcapacity of the system 10 and further provides for a more reliablediagnosis of any physiological abnormality, such as, for example, apulmonary dysfunction. Preferably, the mouthpiece occupies the entirevolume of the airway 30 without touching the plurality of sensors. Inthe embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 b through 1 d , the mouthpiece 14occupies about 50% of volume in the airway 30.

Although FIGS. 1 and 7 show the handheld unit 12 having a particularconfiguration, one skilled in the art would recognize readily that thehandheld unit 12 having the above described airway 30 and removablemouthpiece 14 could adopt any number of ergonomic configurations. Forexample, the handheld unit 12 could be egg shaped or box shaped andprovide finger grips for a secure one-handed or two-handed hold.

Additionally, in an alternate embodiment, the mouthpiece 14 couldincorporate a mask for covering a user's airway. The mask easily couldbe designed to prevent air leakage, which could occur especially withusers having facial hair that would prevent a precise seal between themask and the user's face.

The description above generally describes the control unit 20 andhandheld unit 12 portions of the system 10, and the followingdescription provides further detail regarding these components of thepresent invention, starting with a description of the control unit 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 a through 1 c , the control unit 20 of the preferredembodiment includes a display 24 adapted to present output signals to auser. As shown in FIGS. 2 a through 6 d , the display 24 also mayfunction as an interface between the control unit 20 and the user suchthat the user can input and/or select information to be viewed, tested,or summarized. The display 24 can include, for example, a touch screenor other interface that presents data and receives inputs from a user.As shown in FIG. 2 , the display 24 may include a menu from which a usercan select for presentation on the display 24 a type of test or a typeof data, such as a spirometry reading or a carboximetry reading. Asshown in FIG. 3 a , the display 24 also can include an input panel thatprovides a means, such as a touch screen keypad, for enteringinformation usable in identifying a patient.

In other variations of the preferred embodiment, the display 24 canpresent graphic or tabular information regarding testing results for aparticular patient. For example, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 respectivelyillustrate a graphical representation of a patient's spirometry results,tabular information regarding the same, and tabular informationregarding the same patient's carboximetry results. FIGS. 6 b through 6 ddepict the display 24 presenting carboximetry results and an indicationof whether a patient has a respiratory dysfunction, such as a pulmonaryembolism, or whether further testing is required. An alternateembodiment of the present invention may provide an indication of theabsence of a respiratory dysfunction such as a pulmonary embolism. Thesystem 10 and the proprietary software therein can readily process dataand format results for either graphical or tabular presentation, as wellas any other format that is acceptable or preferable in the medicalfield.

The display 24 of the preferred embodiment further can interface with auser for other aspects of a patient's health that may relate to aphysiological normality, such as a pulmonary dysfunction. For example,the display 24 can include menus and/or data representations related toa patient's heart rate, tidal volume, dead space volume, as well as anyother diagnostic measure of a physiological abnormality, such as apulmonary dysfunction. Additionally, the display 24 may provide anoption for hiding the presentation of run time display data duringpatient use of the system 10. This option may prevent patients fromexperiencing any unnecessary stress caused by viewing their test resultsduring testing. This option thus may increase the accuracy andrepeatability of the diagnostic test by preventing patients fromexperiencing forms of biofeedback, or stress-induced fluctuations, whichcould occur from watching real-time and/or processed data during theirtest.

The present invention also includes a handheld unit 12 for aiding in thediagnosis of a physiological dysfunction. As shown in FIG. 7 , thehandheld unit of the preferred embodiment includes an airway 30 definedwithin the handheld unit and a plurality of sensors disposed within theairway. The plurality of sensors is adapted to measure a plurality ofparameters related to the presence of a physiological abnormality. Forexample, sensors may measure parameters indicative of a respiratorydysfunction, parameters such as for example the oxygen and carbondioxide content of a user's exhaled breath. The handheld unit 14 furtherincludes a mouthpiece 14 selectively connectable to the handheld unit12. The mouthpiece 14 can include a filter 70 adapted to minimizeairflow resistance and substantially prohibit the passage of germs intothe airway of the handheld unit.

In a variation of the preferred embodiment, the handheld unit 12includes an oxygen sensor 34 having an emitter/sensor 35 a and a lens 35b. The preferred oxygen sensor 34 is a combination of a light emittingdiode (LED) and a photodetector that measures the reflectivity of lightoriginating from the LED and reflecting off a selected surface. In mostpreferred embodiments, the LED emits light in or around the bluewavelengths that the lens 35 b then directs onto a coated surface (notshown) that is reactive to oxygen. As the level of oxygen in the airflowvaries, the fluorescence of the coated surface also varies, and thephotodetector measures this variance. The system 10 uses knownrelationships between the reflective intensity of the coated surface andthe measured photodetector values to compute an amount of oxygen in theairflow. Additionally, the coating on the sensor 35 a is thermallystabilized, thereby improving measurement accuracy of the oxygen sensor34.

The handheld unit 12 also can include a carbon dioxide sensor 32 that isdisposed adjacent to the oxygen sensor 34 in the airway 30. The carbondioxide sensor 32 is preferably a non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR),of the type known in the art.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen sensor34 and the carbon dioxide sensor 32 are arranged for minimizing thepotential for error in the computation of the carbon dioxide to oxygenratio of the airflow. More particularly, the oxygen sensor 34 and thecarbon dioxide sensor 32 are arranged so as to be mutually orthogonalwith a longitudinal axis of the airway 30. Additionally, because bothsensors can be optical sensors, they can be arranged such that a firstray emanating from the oxygen sensor 34 and a second ray emanating fromthe carbon dioxide 32 sensor are substantially perpendicular. The firstand second rays then define an imaginary plane that is substantiallynormal to the airflow passing through the airway 30.

This orientation provides a number of benefits, including synchronizeddata collection over a unique volume of air as it passes through theairway 30. Serial disposition of these sensors, as practiced in thestate of the art, prevents each sensor from operating independently andsimultaneously upon the same volume of air. That limitation creates anopportunity for changes in air temperature, flow direction, pressure orgaseous concentration to affect adversely the accuracy of measuredvalues of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The present invention solves thisproblem through the aforementioned orthogonal orientation of the oxygensensor 34 and the carbon dioxide sensor 32.

In one embodiment, the handheld unit 12 additionally can containtemperature and humidity control means 40 including at least a firstthermometer 42 and a heating element 41, wherein the latter two elementspreferably cooperate to maintain the temperature of the airway 30 at apredetermined level. In other embodiments, sensors may be located in anypart of the device. Additionally, the handheld unit or any other part ofthe device may incorporate a fan (not shown) for rapidly equalizinghumidity within the device sensors to the ambient condition, therebyimproving sensor accuracy. A second thermometer 43 also can be disposedwithin the airway 30 for measuring an air temperature there. Variationsin the temperature and relative humidity between inhaled air and exhaledair may cause unintended errors in the measurement of the carbon dioxideto oxygen ratios as measured by the present invention. The softwareportion (not shown) existing within the system also executes athermal-correction algorithm on the CPU (not shown). This algorithmimproves performance of the oxygen sensor 35 by reducing thermalvariation in the oxygen sensor 35 reading and thereby reduces thermalerror by a factor of about 2. By warming the airway 30, the heatingelement 41 thermally stabilizes air flowing over any airway sensors,such as the oxygen sensor 35 and the carbon dioxide sensor 32, bynormalizing the relative humidity and temperature gradient over eachrespiration cycle. The heating element 41 also prevents condensationfrom forming on critical sensing surfaces. Elevating the temperature ofthe airway sensors to something higher than the temperature of thehumidified air exhaled through the airway 30 prevents condensation frominterfering with proper operation. The conical filtration media 70 alsomay consist of a material suitable for entrapping humidity, therebyblocking condensation from entering the airway 30.

The temperature control means 40 of the present invention is adapted formaintaining the temperature of the airway 30 at a range betweenthirty-three and forty-three degrees Celsius. More preferably, thetemperature control means 40 of the present invention is adapted formaintaining the temperature of the airway 30 at approximatelythirty-eight degrees Celsius. The temperature control feature of thepresent invention provides a number of benefits including warming theinhaled air so as to decrease the temperature gradient over therespiration cycle of a user and increasing the sensitivity of the oxygensensor 34 and the carbon dioxide sensor 32 by normalizing the relativehumidity and temperature gradient over the respiration cycle. Thesoftware portion (not shown) existing within the system 10 also monitorsthe temperature of the temperature control means 40 and prevents use ofthe system 10 in the event that the temperature deviates from a rangedetermined to be acceptable for either sensor calibration accuracy orcondensation prevention.

In another variation of the preferred embodiment, the handheld unit 12can include a bypass channel 38 that connects to the airway 30. Thebypass channel 38 functions to remove a minimal portion of the airflowfrom the airway 30 for the purposes of measuring one or more parametersassociated with the airflow. For example, the bypass channel 38 maycontain one or more sensors for measuring one or more of thetemperature, pressure, carbon dioxide content, or oxygen content of theairflow. Additionally, the bypass channel 38 may contain a thermometer.

In a variation of the preferred embodiment having the oxygen sensor 34disposed within the bypass channel 38, the bypass channel 38 serves anadded benefit of preventing stray light from reaching the oxygen sensorand corrupting measurement accuracy. In other variations of thepreferred embodiment, the handheld unit 12 can include a second bypasschannel (not shown) that is located opposite or adjacent to the bypasschannel 38. The second bypass channel also may contain one or moresensors. For example, the second bypass channel may contain an oxygensensor 34 of the type described above in order to prevent ambient lightfrom entering the airway 30 and corrupting the oxygen sensor 34. Anadditional bypass channel (not show) may provide a bypass to ambient airand thus conduct fresh air into the airway 30 during inhalation. Aplurality of bypass channels 38 may exist containing any number ofsensors and each of those bypass channels 38 may be arranged in anyorientation with respect to one another.

In a preferred embodiment, a first bypass channel 38 contains an oxygensensor and a second bypass channel (not shown) contains a volumetricairflow sensor. The flow within the bypass channel 38 is in fluidcommunication with the airway 30. As shown in FIG. 7 , a volumetricairflow sensor 36 disposed within the bypass channel 38 measures theflow within the handheld unit 12. This sensor may be any volumetricairflow sensor known in the art, such as a delta pressure sensor, ahot-wire anemometer, or a turbine tachometer device. Measuring airflowallows the system 12 to calculate a volume of air flowing into and outof a user's lungs. This derived measurement is critical in identifyingany number of physiological abnormalities, for example, a respiratorydysfunction such as a pulmonary embolism.

Additional ambient sensors (not shown) located within the elongatedportion 15 of the handheld unit 12 measure ambient temperature, pressureand humidity for calibrating the system 10. An open air flow channel(not shown) exits within the elongated portion 15 of the handheld unit12 such that ambient air flows into the elongated portion 15 where theambient sensors lie. This ensures a homogenous psychrometric conditionof the outside ambient air and the air in contact with the ambient airsensors. A thermal barrier (not shown) exists between the portion of thehandheld unit 12 containing the heating element 41 and the portion ofthe handheld unit containing the ambient air sensors. This thermalbarrier reduces any potential for error in ambient air sensor readingscaused the heating element 41 potentially heating the ambient airsensors above the temperature of the ambient air outside of the handheldunit 12. These additional sensors in combination with sensors in theairway 30 and the bypass channel 38 enable a single point calibrationcorrection. This calibration is a psychrometric correction that requiresno external, active calibration using calibration gases. The controlunit 20 then takes measurements from the sensors in the bypass channel38 and compares those to corrected values of known molecularconcentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in ambient air. These knownambient concentrations are corrected for ambient temperature, pressureand humidity as measured by the additional sensors positioned within theelongated portion 15. The system 10 uses these derived values tocalibrate the oxygen sensor 34 and the carbon dioxide sensor 32. Thesoftware portion (not shown) existing within the system 10 also monitorsthe ambient sensor measurements and prevents use of the system 10 in anevent that any ambient sensor measurement deviates from a rangedetermined to be acceptable for either sensor calibration accuracy orgeneral operation.

In one embodiment, calibration also includes the step calibrating theairflow sensor 36 by restricting airflow from airway 30. A user mayrestrict airflow by docking the handheld unit 12 on the controller unit20 which has a low pressure seal thereon for contacting the handheldunit 12 and sealing the airway 30 on one end. The geometry of thehandheld unit 12 enables correct positioning and a proper seal whendocked on the control unit 20. Restricting airflow enables calibrationof the volumetric airflow sensor 36 in this zero-flow condition.Alternatively, connecting removable mouthpiece 14, with a filter 70disposed therein, to the handheld unit 12 restricts airflow with theairway 30 such that accurate calibration is possible without docking thehandheld unit 12 on the control unit 20.

In one embodiment, runtime calibration of the handheld unit 12 occursautomatically prior to each use. This runtime calibration adjusts sensormeasurement for potential drift and/or change over time. Prior torunning the carboximetry runtime calibration, the controller unit 20instructs an operator to ensure proper installation of the removablemouthpiece 14. The controller unit also instructs the operator to avoidmoving the handheld unit 12 and breathing into the handheld unit 12, andto ensure fresh ambient air is in the airway 30. Once and operatoracknowledges the instructions, the system 10 runs a carboximetry runtimecalibration. The control unit 20 analyzes collected data and determineswhether a sensor calibration is necessary or whether a fundamentalsensor error has occurred. These determinations depend on flowconditions and expected concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Turning now back to the airway 30 of the handheld unit 12, the presentinvention further includes a removable mouthpiece 14 usable in thedetection of a physiological abnormality, symptoms of which manifest inmeasured components of a breath of air. As shown in FIGS. 8 through 11 ,the removable mouthpiece 14 includes a substantially cylindrical bodyportion 60 defining a substantially cylindrical passageway 62 having afirst end 64 and a second end 66. The removable mouthpiece 14 furtherincludes a support member 68 disposed at a first end 64 of the bodyportion 60 and an integrated filtration media 70 connected to thesupport member 68. The filtration media 70 is substantially conical anddefines an open end 74 and a closed end 72. The orientation of thefiltration media 70 within the passageway 62 is such that the open end74 is substantially adjacent to the first end 64 of the body portion 60.

The removable mouthpiece 14 is selectively connectable to a handheldunit 12 of the type described above, wherein the handheld unit 12 isadapted to measure a plurality of parameters that may be indicative of aphysiological abnormality. The integrated filtration media 70substantially prohibits the passage of germs into the airway 30 of thehandheld unit 12. To that end, the filtration media 70 may includecertain antimicrobial coatings, fibers, compounds or compositions thatare adapted to kill or occlude the passage of germs into the airway 30.

The filtration media 70 further functions to minimize the dead spacevolume within the removable mouthpiece 14 and within the airway 30 ofthe handheld unit 12 and, most importantly, because of its substantialsurface area available for airflow exchange, the filtration media 70minimizes airflow resistance during both exhalation and inhalation.Minimizing the dead space volume while minimizing airflow resistanceprovides a number of benefits, most notably increased precision andreliability of measurements derived by the plurality of sensors disposedwithin the handheld unit 12. In one embodiment, the diameter ratio ofthe filtration media 70 diameter at the closed end 72 to the filtrationmedia 70 diameter at the open end 74 is between 1:2 and 1:4 and morepreferably is approximately 3:8. Based on this preferred diameter ratio,an optimal range of ratios of preferred length of the filtration media70 to the closed end 72 diameter of the filtration media 70 is between4:1 and 5:1. These dimensions provide low resistance of the filtrationmedia 70 while occupying a volume measuring close to half of the airway30.

By minimizing the overall volume of air located within the airway 30,the removable mouthpiece 14 improves the overall measuring capacity ofthe system 10 and provides a more reliable diagnosis of anyphysiological abnormality. With dead space volume minimized, the system10 requires that a user produce only a minimal volume per breath toproperly and consistently operate the sensors of the present invention.With airflow resistance minimized, a user may breathe more comfortablythrough the handheld unit 12 thereby producing more consistent andaccurate results. This increased control and precision of relevantmeasurement variables (flow, temperature, oxygen, carbon dioxide, andpulse rate) helps to assure an accurate and predictive diagnosis of anyphysiological abnormalities detectable in a quantity of breathed air,abnormalities such as respiratory dysfunction.

The removable mouthpiece 14 mates with the airway 30 without a need foradditional tools. In one embodiment, the removable mouthpiece 14 mateswith the handheld unit 12 under no more than 1.5 kg of insertion forceand no more than 0.25 N-m of rotational moment during eitherinstallation or removal. Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, theassembled removable mouthpiece 14 and handheld unit 12 maintain a staticlow-pressure seal of at least 6 cmH2O for no less than 5 minutes, losingno more than 0.05 cmH2O of pressure while subject to a static load noless than +/−1.2 kg applied in the following two orientations: 1) alongthe longitudinal axis of the airway 30 and 2) perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the airway 30 at three distinct, equally spacedpoints around the diameter of the disposable inlet, at a distance nograter than 1 cm from the inlet of the removable mouthpiece 14. Underthese conditions, the removable mouthpiece 12 shall not break or form acrack when subject to a static load no less than +/−5 kg and applied inthe following orientations: 1) along the longitudinal axis of the airway30, 2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the airway 30 at threedistinct, equally spaced points around the diameter of the disposableinlet, at a distance no grater than 1 cm from the inlet of the removablemouthpiece 14, 3) rotational moment perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the airway 30, applied at a distance no great than 1 cm from theinlet of the removable mouthpiece 14, and 4) rotational momentperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the airway 30, applied within0.5 cm of the largest cross section diameter of the removable mouthpiece14

FIGS. 12 a through 13 d show views of alternative embodiments of theremovable mouthpiece 14. As shown in detail in FIGS. 12 a and 12 b ,these alternative embodiments of the removable mouthpiece 14, comprise aflared, substantially conical spitguard 85 that protects and maintainscleanliness of the handheld unit 12 between users. The spitguard 85preferably provides diametrically opposed finger grips 90 for assistinga user with inserting the removable mouthpiece 14 into the handheld unit12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 b and 13 c , one alternativeembodiment of the removable mouthpiece 14 may provide key indentations92 for mating with raised ridges on the handheld unit 12 so that themouthpiece 14 is properly oriented within the airway 30.

This alternative embodiment of removable mouthpiece 14 requires properorientation because of a flange unit 95 designed for comfortably holdinga user's mouth open to provide a free flow of air while enabling acomfortable seal. The flange unit 95 has thereon bite tabs 100, 105 onwhich a user comfortably may rest his teeth. Because the tabs 100, 105are spaced apart from one another, a user's mouth then remains spacedapart. The flange unit 95 also comprises a lip rest 110 against which auser comfortably may rest his lips to provide a proper seal and preventloss of airflow through the handheld unit 12. Both the flange unit 95and an internal seal 115 that helps the mouthpiece 14 engage securelywith the handheld unit 12 may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer(TPE), such as Mediprene®, which has a high biocompatibility and lessensthe potential for an allergic response in a user. Additionally, theinternal seal 115 may exist on the mouthpiece either within themouthpiece 14 as depicted clearly in FIG. 12 b or at the end of themouthpiece 14 as depicted in FIG. 13 a.

In addition to the flange unit 95 and key indentations 92, FIGS. 12 bthrough 12 d depict an embodiment of the mouthpiece 14 having afiltration media 70 supported by a support member 68 comprising aplurality of fins for surrounding and supporting both internal andexternal surfaces of the filtration media. The support member 68 of thisembodiment of the mouthpiece 14 thereby constrains the filtration media70 and prevents the filtration media 70 from ballooning out orcollapsing and cutting off airflow during exhalation and inhalationrespectively.

The number of fins comprising the support member 68 and their placementdirectly effect resistance. Too many fins would increase resistance toomuch and too few fins would leave the filtration media 70 unsupported.In the embodiment depicted FIGS. 12 b through 12 d and FIGS. 13 bthrough 12 d , the support member 68 comprises 8 fins arrangedsymmetrically and spaced evenly about the substantially conicalfiltration media 70; Any number and arrangement of fins is possible. Thesize and shape of the fins is also flexible such that the fins may besculpted to aid airflow into the filtration media 70. In alternativeembodiments, instead of providing fins, the support member 68 maycomprise a mesh or mesh-like structure for constraining the filtrationmedia. Alternatively, the support member 68 may support only theexterior surface of the filtration media 70 and the filtration media 70may be pleated to resist ballooning and collapsing during exhalation andinhalation.

Use of a disposable removable mouthpiece 14 in the system 10 describedabove permits a user to reuse the handheld unit 12 on different patientswithout the need for any sterilization or cleaning procedures. A user ofthe system 10 and handheld unit 12 of the present invention readily canaffix a new, sterilized removable mouthpiece 14 to the handheld unit 12prior to use on a new patient. Following testing of a patient, the usercan simply remove and discard the removable mouthpiece 14, including thefiltration media 70, and return the handheld unit 12 to its properstorage location. Use of the removable mouthpiece 14 saves a user anytime that otherwise would be dedicated to cleaning or sterilizing thehandheld device 14. As such, the user can have more time to dedicate totreatment and diagnosis of potential physiological abnormalities, suchas pulmonary dysfunctions, in one or more patients.

Integration of the filtration media 70 into the removable mouthpiece 14also can save significant costs in the design and production of thesystem 10 and handheld unit 14 of the present invention. No need existsfor cleaning or replacing both a mouthpiece and a filter. The presentinvention provides a removable mouthpiece 14 that a user can secure andremove as needed on a single-use basis. Manufacture of the removablemouthpiece 14 also is simplified because the filtration media 70 isintegrated within the mouthpiece 14. No need exists for designing ormanufacturing special surfaces, contours or features that would permitthe cleaning of the removable mouthpiece 14 or the removal of thefiltration media 70. Accordingly, the removable mouthpiece 14 ismanufacturable at a lower cost than a more traditional, reusablemouthpiece intended for a similar or identical purpose.

Turning now to FIG. 14 , the present invention also includes anexemplary method for diagnosing a physiological abnormality and forparticularly diagnosing a pulmonary embolism using the above-describedsystem 10. Because gas exchange decreases when a pulmonary embolismblocks a pulmonary artery, the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen (carboxratio) in a volume of exhaled air also decreases. Referring to a firststep S140 of the method of FIG. 14 , the sensors of system 10 measurecarbon dioxide and oxygen content of a volume of air flowing through theairway 30. The system measures concentrations of carbon dioxide andoxygen and derives partial pressure values from those measurements. In asecond step S150, the system 10 calculates a carbox ratio and displaysdata relating to these measurements. The carbox ratio general representsa partial pressure calculation of carbon dioxide produced over a partialpressure calculation of unconsumed oxygen. Based on predeterminedthreshold values indicative of the presence or absence of a pulmonaryembolism, the system 10 identifies whether measurements aredeterminative of respiratory dysfunction.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the system 10 includes a display 24having menus and/or data representations not only related tocarboximetry measurements but also related to a number of additionalmeasurements, including for example a patient's heart rate, tidalvolume, and dead space volume. Some of these additional measurements andcalculations derived therefrom at a third step S160 enable a moreaccurate determination of the presence or absence of a pulmonaryembolism. At a fourth step S170, the method involves applying theseadditional measurements to the carbox ratio thereby refining predictiveaccuracy of any carboximetry calculations falling near or betweenthreshold values indicative of the presence or absence of a pulmonaryembolism. These additional measurements and calculated factors, ornormalization factors, work independently and in combination to increasethe precision with which the system 10 determines whether a patientexhibits a pulmonary embolism.

Clinical studies of patients using the system 10 yield a cloud of datarepresenting patients manifesting pulmonary embolisms, patients notmanifesting pulmonary embolisms, and patients whose measurements areinconclusive. Applying normalization factors to this data pool betterseparates these measured data points into delineated groups falling oneither side of a threshold value distinguishing patients with pulmonaryembolisms from those without pulmonary embolisms. This increaseddelineation aids in diagnosing patients whose measurements are otherwiseinconclusive.

Statistical data analyses are applicable to this delineation process,and these analyses may establish sensitivity, or true positive readings,at a certain percentage that also minimizes specificity, or the numberof false positive readings. For example, this system 10 may successfullycatch 95% of patients veritably experiencing pulmonary embolisms whileidentifying 95% of patients not manifesting pulmonary embolisms. Theselimits derive from thresholds determined during statistical analyses ofclinical data, including comparing discreet values to valuesextrapolated from smooth Gaussian distributions. Establishing thesepercentages and extrapolating plotted study data identifies establishedthreshold values by which to analyze real time clinical measurements.

Returning now to the method of FIG. 14 , the fourth step S170 of thepresent method for diagnosing pulmonary embolisms recites employingnormalization factors to measured data. A fifth step S180 recitescomparing that normalized data to established threshold valuesdetermined though the above-described clinical studies and dataanalyses. A final step S190 involves diagnosing true instances ofpulmonary embolism based on the comparison in step S180.

In one embodiment of the present method, measured dead space in a volumeof exhaled air functions as a particularly effective normalizationfactor for refining the conclusiveness with which the ratio of carbondioxide to oxygen indicates the presence of a pulmonary embolism. As isknown in the art, the dead space volume refers to the portion of anytidal breath without gas exchange. Numerous methodologies known in theart are available for determining the dead space volume, including forexample the Fletcher-Fowler method. The Fletcher-Fowler method includesmeasuring a carbon dioxide concentration across an exhalation period,resulting in a curve representing the exhaled volume as a function ofcarbon dioxide concentration. Integration of the curve about anequilibrium point results in the calculation of a dead space volume,which may or may not be indicative of a respiratory dysfunction such aspulmonary embolism.

Dead space alone functions effectively as a normalization factor forseparating true positive readings indicative of the veritable presenceof pulmonary embolism from false positive readings that falsely indicatethe presence of pulmonary embolism. One way to apply the dead spacenormalization factor to the carboximetry ratio of carbon dioxide tooxygen in an exhaled volume of air is first to measure dead space over acollection of breaths and then calculate a median dead space value forthat collection of breaths. Then, using measurements from a singlebreath, multiply the carbox ratio by a ratio of the expected dead spacevalue to the median dead space value for the patient's collection ofbreaths. Expected dead space value may be a text book value for acertain population. Other factors may influence this determined value,such as a patient's history and metabolism. Comparing the resulting deadspace normalized carbox value to a threshold value determined throughclinical studies identifies carbox ratio values that otherwise falselyindicate the presence of pulmonary embolism. Alternatively, dead spacemay be used to qualify a single breath as usable for valid carboximetrycalculations. For example, if exhaled volume exceeds 1.5 times the deadspace volume, a breath may be valid for calculating a carbox ratio.

In an alternative embodiment, dead space functions as an effectivenormalization factor either in combination with or independently ofadditional normalization factors. One such factor that operatesindependently is respiratory quotient (RQ). Calculating RQ requires anadditional measurement of the amount of oxygen consumed in a volume ofinhaled air. Dividing this measured value of oxygen by the measuredamount of carbon dioxide produced in a volume of exhaled air producesthe RQ value. RQ is useful in normalizing readings based on what apatient is metabolizing, for example fats, carbohydrates and proteins.Applying RQ as a normalization factor helps sort patients whosemetabolic changes may influence carboximetry readings and producemisleading results around and between threshold carbon dioxide to oxygenratio values.

In yet another embodiment of the present method, applying minute volumecalculations to dead space normalized caboximetry values further refinesdata analysis. Minute volume is a volume of inhaled air measured over aperiod of one minute, and this volume increases when a patient manifestsa pulmonary embolism. High minute volumes, however, are particularlyuseful discriminators for identifying patients without pulmonaryembolisms who nonetheless produce low carbox ratio values because theyare hyperventilating. When applied to the dead space normalized carboxratio as a normalization factor, minute volume identifies patients whomerely are hyperventilating and producing carboximetry readingsmimicking those indicative of pulmonary embolism. Negative pulmonaryembolism readings for patients with low carbon dioxide to oxygen ratiosfalling below a threshold validly identify patients without pulmonaryembolisms.

In an alternative embodiment of this method of diagnosing a pulmonaryembolism using system 10, minute volume also functions an effectivenormalization factor when applied to the dead space normalized carboxratio in conjunction with another normalization factor, uptake rate.Applying an uptake rate value to a minute volume measurement produces animproved gross indicator of hyperventilation. Uptake rate is the amountof oxygen absorbed by a patient's lung over a period of one minute.Oxygen levels in a breath of air decrease over a length of time that airremains in a patient's lungs. Because a pulmonary embolism blocksarterial flow, more oxygen remains in a volume of air exhaled by apatient manifesting a pulmonary embolism. By measuring oxygen levelsover the duration of an exhaled breath, system 10 determines the rate atwhich oxygen levels decrease during that exhaled breath, and this rateis determinative of the rate with which a patient's lungs absorb oxygen.This rate of change is low for patients with pulmonary embolisms whoselungs are unable to absorb oxygen effectively. Calculating the ratio ofminute volume to uptake rate produces a value indicative of ventilationrate to perfusion rate, and comparing that calculated value to a knownthreshold value identifies patients who are hyperventilating rather thanmanifesting respiratory dysfunction indicative of pulmonary embolism.

In yet another alternative embodiment, applying alveolar minute volumeto the carbox ratio produces useful normalized values. Alveolar minutevolume is measured minute volume less calculated dead space. Thisderived normalization factor further refines the determinative value ofa carbon dioxide to oxygen ratio to diagnose a pulmonary embolism.

Phase 2 slope normalization provides yet another alternative method fordiagnosing pulmonary embolism using data collected by the system 10. Thesystem 10 measures carbon dioxide and oxygen content in a volume ofexhaled air. During the duration of a single exhalation, the ratio ofthese measurements varies sharply at an identifiable point of changewhen the rate of molecular exchange varies sharply. Phase 2 slopenormalization entails identifying this point of change that leads into asecond slope phase, the phase 2 slope, and calculating the carbox ratioat this point of change. System 10 then diagnoses pulmonary embolism byfurther applying the above-described normalization methods to this phase2 slope ratio.

In another embodiment, the method of diagnosing pulmonary embolismcomprises calculating an expected ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen andcomparing this value to actual measured ratios of carbon dioxide tooxygen. In this alternative method, the system 10 displays actual andexpected carbox ratios for analysis by a clinician. Calculating anexpected ratio depends on a number of physiological factors, such asheight, weight, gender, and age. The system 10 calculates an expectedcarbox ratio based on a clinician's inputting these patient-specificfactors. The clinician then determines whether a patient's exhaled airmeasurements divert from expected ratios and thereby indicate thepresence of respiratory dysfunction. Additionally, this comparison ofmeasured data to expected data may be useful in conjunction with dataanalyses using methods for diagnosing respiratory dysfunction thatinvolve normalization factors.

In another alternative embodiment, plethsmograph measurements aid indiagnosing pulmonary embolisms using dead space normalized ratios ofcarbon dioxide to oxygen in a volume of exhaled air. Plethsmographsmeasure variation in a patient's heartbeat between an inhale portion ofa breath and an exhale portion of that breath. Generally, breathingalters chest cavity pressure and effects rhythmic beating of a heart.Patients experiencing pulmonary embolisms exhibit an altered pressureregulation of their hearts wherein their heartbeats respond less todeviations in chest cavity pressure between each inhalation andexhalation. In other words, because patients with pulmonary embolismhave already-pressurized hearts, they also have a more consistentheartbeat between inhalation and exhalation than healthy individuals.

Applying plethsmograph readings to normalized ratios determined by thesystem 10 operating simultaneously with the plethsmograph improvesspecificity by conclusively identifying patients without pulmonaryembolisms who nonetheless exhibit low dead space normalized carbondioxide to oxygen ratios. This method uses plethsmograph readings tocalculate a heart period ratio of mean exhale period to mean inhaleheart period. Comparing this value and/or inhalation and exhalationheart period measurement variability values to known threshold valuesthen identifies patients without pulmonary embolisms who exhibit lowdead space normalized carbox ratios.

Exemplification of Normalization

Purpose of Normalization

The carbox value, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide divided by thepartial pressure of oxygen in an exhaled breath, is a metric with valuein diagnosing pulmonary embolism. Comparing a patient's carbox value tothreshold values determines whether the patient almost certainly has apulmonary embolism, whether the patient almost certainly does not have apulmonary embolism, or whether the results are inconclusive and that thepatient requires further testing. The thresholds are determinablethrough clinical testing, which testing also determines the distributionof carbox values in a patient population.

The quantities making up the carbox value are partial pressure of oxygenand partial pressure of carbon dioxide in an exhaled breath. Thesequantities vary with other physiological parameters. Additionally, othermeasurable physiological parameters are affected by the presence of apulmonary embolism. Normalization measures these other physiologicalparameters and combines them mathematically with the carbox value. Thisprocess compensates for the confusing effects of other parameters thatmay obscure the carbox value's diagnostic utility by combining thepredictive value of a parameter with the carbox value to strengthen thedata's diagnostic utility.

Data Used to Evaluate Normalization Techniques

These normalization techniques were evaluated in a 92 patient studyusing an Alpha Prototype 1 of the system 10. The study determined carboxvalues for a population with a clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolismand a baseline risk for elevated D-dimer. Twenty patients in the studywere considered to have a pulmonary embolism.

Process for Evaluating the Data

A. Data Available

Each patient in the study produced data collected over approximatelyfour periods of tidal breathing followed by a deep inhalation andexhalation. The data collected during this time included partialpressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, air flow (L/s),and a plethsmographic signal.

B. Data Reduction

Data evaluation transpired in the following sequence of steps: A firststep involved determining when each patient was inhaling and exhaling. Asecond step involved determining when distinct exhalations occurred foreach patient's measurements. An exhalation occurred when the volume ofair produced exceeded 0.1 L and when the length of exhale was at leastone second. With exhalations identified, a third step includeddetermining the dead space volume for each patient. The dead space foreach breath was determined using the above-described Fletcher-Fowlermethod. The median dead space volume for the collection period was usedas a patient's dead space measurement. Lastly, a fourth step involveddetermining representative carbox values for the patient. The breathsduring which the exhaled volume exceeded the dead space volume whilemeasuring less than 1.7 L determined a representative carbox value. Inaddition to the volume requirement for determining representativebreaths, the carbon dioxide level and the oxygen level of theserepresentative breaths changed by at least 5 torr.

For all qualifying breaths, a linear fit was made to the carbon dioxideversus volume curve and to the oxygen versus volume curve. The linearfit was an asymptotic line drawn at a point on the curve located betweenthe knee, of each partial pressure versus volume curve and a 1 Lmeasurement on the volume axis. In this study, when the exhaled volumeexceeded 1.5 times the dead space volume, 1.5 times the dead spacevolume represented the knee of each curve. When the exhaled volume didnot exceed 1.5 times the dead space volume, then the halfway pointbetween the dead space volume and the maximum exhaled volume representedthe knee of each curve. With asymptotic linear fits placed on eachpartial pressure versus volume curve, the data reduction then involvedidentifying the partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen at thepoint where each respective linear fit reached either 1 L or the maximumexhaled volume, whichever was a smaller value. The data reduction thenincluded dividing the extrapolated carbon dioxide value by theextrapolated oxygen value to calculate a carbox value for eachrepresentative breath. The median carbox value for all of a patient'sbreaths then represented the patient's carbox value.

Several other choices were available for determining the patient'scarbox value. The fit could have had the form of a linear portioncombined with an exponential portion. Although this study used 1.5 timesdead space volume, the evaluation volume could have been a differentvalue. The requirements for a legitimate breath could have been anothervalue. Other methods of extracting a representative carbon dioxide andoxygen value could have worked as well. The particular method used forthis study, however, was simple and effective. Additionally, for thedata used in this study, no appreciable differences resulted from thestyle of fit selected or from the point at which oxygen and carbondioxide values were determined from their representative curves.

C. Evaluating Normalization Effectiveness

1. Determining the Normalization Factor

Next, the clinical study involved identifying the above-describednormalization factors such as a patient's dead space, respiratoryquotient (RQ), phase 2 slope, uptake rate and minute volume. The deadspace-normalization factor represents the patient's dead space volume asalready described. The respiratory quotient is defined as a ratio ofoxygen consumed to carbon dioxide produced by a patient. In this study,RQ value was determined by integrating the change in oxygen and thechange in carbon dioxide for all a patient's valid breaths. The phase 2slope is defined as the maximum slope measured in the carbon dioxideversus volume curve. The depiction in FIG. 15 elucidates this point. Inthe study, the phase 2 slope determination involved fitting 100 lines tothe carbon dioxide versus volume curve over 0.02 L sections of eachbreath and determining a maximum slope from this set of linear fits. Apatient's phase 2 slope then represented a median value of all themaximum slopes determined for breaths considered valid for the purposeof evaluation.

2. Applying the Normalization Factors

The clinical study's data analysis then involved normalizing eachpatient's carboximeter value by various normalization factors. Deadspace normalization involved dividing that carbox ratio by a patient'sdead space value. Similarly, when normalizing using RQ, the studyinvolved dividing patient's carbox value by their RQ value. Thepatient's phase 2 slope was multiplied by the carbox value to normalizecarbox by this parameter. In all cases, the data analysis involvedapplying the mean value of each normalization parameter for all patientsin the study in an opposite fashion to the application of thenormalization factor. For example, the data analysis includedmultiplying a patient's dead space normalized carbox ratio by the meandead space value calculated over the entire population of evaluatedpatients. This application of the mean values created a comparison ofthe normalized carbox value with the non-normalized carbox value.Applying this constant term, the mean value of a normalization factor,to calculated normalized carbox ratios produces no affect on thecalculated sensitivity and specificity directly, but instead affectsthresholds for data analysis performed by the system 10.

3. Normalizer Effectiveness Measurement

The study next included evaluating each normalization factor'seffectiveness using graphical methods. The normalized carbox values andthe original carbox value for the patient population comprised areceiver operator curve. A threshold for separating patients withpulmonary embolism and patients without pulmonary embolism was chosen.This threshold value drove a determination from the data of how manypatients were correctly identified as having pulmonary embolism, i.e.the sensitivity, and how many patients were correctly identified ashaving no pulmonary embolism, i.e. the specificity. By varying thethreshold, a plot of sensitivity versus (1—specificity) was generated.This curve was the receiver operator curve.

The primary metric for evaluating each normalization factor was thespecificity when 95% of pulmonary embolisms were properly diagnosed,i.e., the Spec95 or the specificity when the threshold was set so thatthe sensitivity was 95%. All of the normalization factors describedabove have the characteristic that the Spec95 is larger for thenormalized data than for the original, non-normalized carbox value.

FIGS. 16 through 26 represent normalization factor data for thisexemplary study using the Spec95 metric.

The present invention has been described herein with reference to itspreferred embodiments, including several illustrative variationsthereof. However, it should be understood that those skilled in the artreadily could devise many obvious and trivial modifications of thosepreferred embodiments that nevertheless do not depart from the scope ofthe present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variationsin contents of breathed air, comprising: a handheld unit defining anairway, the airway including a plurality of sensors adapted to measure aplurality of parameters related to the presence of a physiologicalabnormality and a heating element disposed within the airway forpreventing condensation from forming on the plurality of sensors; acontrol unit remotely connected to the handheld unit, the control unitincluding a controller adapted to receive input signals from thehandheld unit and remit output signals in response thereto, the controlunit further including a display adapted to display the output signalsto a user in real time during receiving input signals from the handheldunit; and a mouthpiece selectively connectable to the handheld unit, themouthpiece including a filter adapted to substantially prohibit thepassage of germs into the airway of the handheld unit wherein themouthpiece defines a substantially cylindrical body portion defining asubstantially cylindrical passageway, a first end, a second end, and asupport member disposed at a first end of the body portion and whereinthe filter comprises a filtration media being substantially conical anddefining an open end and a closed end, and wherein the filtration mediais disposed within the passageway such that the open end issubstantially adjacent to the first end of the body portion.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include an oxygensensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a volumetric airflow sensor, a pressuresensor, and a thermometer.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thehandheld unit further comprises a plurality of sensors outside of theairway including an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient pressuresensor, and an ambient humidity sensor.
 4. The system of claim 1 whereinthe plurality of sensors include an oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxidesensor, a volumetric airflow sensor, a pressure sensor, and athermometer, wherein the handheld unit further comprises a plurality ofsensors outside of the airway including an ambient temperature sensor,an ambient pressure sensor, and an ambient humidity sensor.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the handheld unit and the control unit areconnected by wired means.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheldunit and the control unit are connected by wireless means.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the filter is connected to the support member. 8.The system of claim 7, wherein the support member comprises a pluralityof fins.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of finsconstrains the filter.
 10. A system for aiding in the diagnosis of aphysiological abnormality resulting in detectable, measurable variationsin contents and characteristics of breathed air, comprising: a handheldunit comprising; a body portion; an airway defined within the handheldunit; a plurality of sensors disposed within the airway, the pluralityof sensors adapted to measure a plurality of parameters related to thepresence of a physiological abnormality; communications means disposedwithin the body portion, the communications means being adapted tocommunicate data in real time with a control unit disposed remotely fromthe body portion; a mouthpiece selectively connectable to the handheldunit, the mouthpiece including a filter adapted to substantiallyprohibit the passage of germs into the airway of the handheld unitwherein the mouthpiece defines a substantially cylindrical body portiondefining a substantially cylindrical passageway, a first end, a secondend, and a support member disposed at a first end of the body portionand wherein the filter comprises a filtration media being substantiallyconical and defining an open end and a closed end, and wherein thefiltration media is disposed within the passageway such that the openend is substantially adjacent to the first end of the body portion, anda control unit remotely connected to the handheld unit, the control unitincluding a controller adapted to receive input signals from thehandheld unit and remit output signals in response thereto, the controlunit further including a display adapted to display the output signalsto a user in real time during receiving input signals from the handheldunit.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensorsinclude an oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a volumetric airflowsensor, a pressure sensor and a thermometer.
 12. The system of claim 10further comprising a plurality of sensors outside of the airwayincluding an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient pressure sensor andan ambient humidity sensor.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein theplurality of sensors include an oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor,a volumetric airflow sensor, a pressure sensor, and a thermometer,wherein the handheld unit further comprises a plurality of sensorsoutside of the airway including an ambient temperature sensor, anambient pressure sensor, and an ambient humidity sensor.
 14. The systemof claim 10, wherein the filter is connected to the support member. 15.The system of claim 10, wherein the communications means include wiredmeans for communicating with the control unit.
 16. The system of claim10, wherein the communications means include wireless means forcommunicating with the control unit.